Arsenal won’t offer the 15-year-old a youth contract to continue playing in its prestigious youth academy beyond this season, according to the Mail.

Beckham currently plays for Arsenal’s U-16 team, but he must find a new club for next season because other right-sided midfielders are “more advanced in their development.”

The news surprises many, as Arsenal called up Beckham to its U-18 team last week for its game against Leicester City. The move reportedly happened by default, as most of the Gunners’ U-18 were in Qatar for a tournament.

Beckham’s other sons, 12-year-old Romeo and 10-year-old Cruz, also play for Arsenal, in younger age groups. The younger Beckham brothers will remain with the Gunners for the time being.

The next stage of Victor Valdes’ storied career will be at the Theater of Dreams.

Valdes, 32, has agreed to join Manchester United as a free agent, according to the BBC. The former Barcelona goalkeeper soon will sign an 18-month contract with the Red Devils and provide competition for entrenched starter David de Gea.

Valdes has been rehabbing and practicing with Manchester United since October, following his recovery from a devastating knee injury he suffered March 26. Barcelona released Valdes when his contract expired last summer, and he has been without a club since then.

Prior to his injury, Valdes already had decided to leave Barcelona after the 2013-14 season. Valdes spent his entire career with the Spanish giant, serving as first-choice goalkeeper since 2003-04. Valdes back-stopped Barcelona during its most glorious era, helping the club win 21 major trophies, including six La Liga (Spanish first division), two Copa Del Rey (Spanish Cup), three UEFA Champions League and two FIFA Club World Cup titles. Valdes also played a role in Spain’s triumphs at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 UEFA European Championship.

Valdes now will reunite with manager Louis van Gaal at Manchester United. Van Gaal was Barcelona’s head coach when Valdes made his first-team debut in 2003 and currently is in his debut season in the Old Trafford dugout.

While De Gea, 24, currently is in stellar form, Valdes’ arrival (and influence) should push him to maintain peak sharpness. Valdes also will serve as a fall-back option for Manchester United should de Gea decline to extend his current contract, which expires in 2016.

Valdes’ signing also could pave the way for Anders Lindegaard, de Gea’s current backup, to leave Manchester United. Sam Johnstone, 21, and Ben Amos, 24, also are on Manchester United’s books as reserve players.

Gareth Bale could return to the Premier League if Manchester United gets its way.

Manchester United submitted a blockbuster transfer bid for Bale on Tuesday, offering Real Madrid a world-record £117 million (€150 million/$181 million) for the Welsh star, Spanish Radio station Cadena COPE reported Tuesday, according to the Daily Star and 101 Great Goals.

COPE journalist Miguel Angel Diaz said Real Madrid will reject Manchester United’s bid for Bale unless he tells the club he wants to leave and return to the English soccer. Bale’s contract reportedly includes a £785.5 million (€1 billion/$1.2 billion) buyout clause, and Real Madrid is under no pressure to sell him at this point in time.

Bale has been a key figure in Real Madrid’s star-studded team since joining from Tottenham Hotspur in a £78 million (€91 million/$123 million) in September 2013. Bale has scored 33 goals (and set up 24 more) in 66 games for Real Madrid, helping the Spanish giant win four titles (included the coveted UEFA Champions League crown) by scoring big goals during his time there.

Manchester United sits third in the Premier League heading into the festive season, and manager Louis van Gaal still is looking to strengthen his team in an effort to build it back into a dominant force in the English and European game.

Reporters asked Van Gaal about the links between Bale and his club Tuesday, but the Dutchman refused to answer their questions.

“I cannot discus that with you,” Van Gaal said, according to Sky Sports. “I discuss that with my CEO (chief executive Ed Woodward) and not with anyone of the media.”

Manchester United bid for Bale days before Tottenham agreed to sell him to Real Madrid, but he chose to move from London to Spain’s capital instead.

Manchester United might not be able to pry Bale loose in January, but it undoubtedly will be the hottest transfer story of 2015 if the Red Devils’ interest continues in the new year.

Filed under: Manchester United FC, Marcus Kwesi O'Mard, Premier League, Rumors, Soccer, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/12/report-man-united-targets-gareth-bale-offers-madrid-181m-for-wing-wizard/feed/00Gareth BalenesnmomardManchester United Considering Exhibition Games In Midst Of Seasonhttp://nesn.com/2014/09/manchester-united-considering-exhibition-games-in-midst-of-season/
http://nesn.com/2014/09/manchester-united-considering-exhibition-games-in-midst-of-season/#commentsTue, 30 Sep 2014 19:37:25 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=394135]]>LONDON — Manchester United is looking at playing lucrative exhibition games overseas to fill the midweek void left by the absence of European soccer this season and the early League Cup exit.

The record 20-time English champion has forecast a 10 percent drop in revenue in 2014-15 after it failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League under David Moyes.

The struggles have left United with just one midweek Premier League game before the end of 2014, and just three in the first three months of 2015. Going overseas — the Middle East would be the most likely destination — would allow United to escape the English winter for a few days, and the addition of Radamel Falcao and Angel di Maria have made the club even more likely to attract lucrative contracts for exhibitions.

“That’s something we continue to look at, as always making sure that the preparations we do on the pitch come first,” United managing director Richard Arnold told The Associated Press. “For many years of our (pre-season) international tours, there is a plan to ensure we get that team building that goes together with getting the team all together in one place. That’s something that’s being looked at with regards to the future (exhibitions) with Louis (Van Gaal).”

Van Gaal said during United’s preseason tour of the United States, shortly after taking over as manager, that the obligations to sponsors and distances the team has to travel was “not very positive for a good preparation” for the Premier League campaign.

But Arnold said there’s no disagreement with Van Gaal over the possibility of taking on more commercial ventures.

“I can only speak positively of my experience with the manager in terms of his understanding of what’s required to get a first-class team onto the pitch and also what’s required for running a club of our magnitude,” Arnold said. “We have a fantastic partnership in terms of our work off the pitch and I’m very appreciative of the support we have had from him.”

Photo via Robert Mayer/USA TODAY Sports Images

Filed under: Manchester United FC, Premier League, Rumors, Soccer, The Associated Press, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/09/manchester-united-considering-exhibition-games-in-midst-of-season/feed/00Manchester United friendliesnesnmomardManchester United friendliesTransfer Deadline Day Wrap-Up: Radamel Falcao To Man U; Danny Welbeck Joins Arsenalhttp://nesn.com/2014/09/transfer-deadline-day-live-radamel-falcao-heading-to-man-u-chicharito-to-real-madrid/
http://nesn.com/2014/09/transfer-deadline-day-live-radamel-falcao-heading-to-man-u-chicharito-to-real-madrid/#commentsMon, 01 Sep 2014 23:30:13 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=381580]]>Wednesday noon: The two mega-deals of deadline day were finalized in the early ours of Wednesday morning.

Radamel Falcao officially joined Manchester United on a season-long loan deal. The Colombian striker has recovered from an ACL injury he suffered in January, which ruled him out of the 2014 World Cup. If he rediscovered his best form and fearsome scoring touch at Old Trafford, Manchester United will have what is arguably world soccer’s deadliest, pure goal scorer in its ranks.

Manchester United will pay a staggering fee to rent Falcao for the 2014-15 season. The Red Devils will pay Monaco a £6 million ($9.9 million) loan fee. They’ll also pay Falcao £265,000-a-week ($437,122 a-week) before taxes, which brings the total cost of securing him to around £24 million ($39.6 million), according to the Telegraph.

BREAKING: #mufc is delighted to announce Radamel Falcao has joined on a 1-year loan from Monaco with an option to buy http://t.co/gnhR4rdsmF

Welbeck, a center forward, would have had few chances to play his natural position at Manchester United due to the presences of Falcao, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. Manchester United was looking to recoup funds after this summer’s spending spree, and Welbeck was one of the its most marketable assets.

Arsenal will be without top striker Olivier Giroud until around Christmas, so Welbeck should see plenty of action up front for the Gunners.

Manchester United also loaned Tom Cleverly to Aston Villa. The Premier League approved the move early Wednesday morning.

Finally, Hull City landed Ben Arfa on a season-long loan. Newcastle was keen to offload Ben Arfa after he reportedly fell out with manager Alan Pardew. Ben Arfa, joins Ramirez, Diame, Hernandez and George Boyd among Hull City’deadline-day signings.

6:30 p.m.: French midfielder Morgan Amalfitano is returning to the Premier League. Amalfitano is joining West Ham on permanent transfer, reportedly worth £1 million ($1.6 million), from Marseille, according to the Mail.

Amalfitano scored four goals in 31 games last season for West Brom.

“I enjoyed my first year in English football and for that reason I have come back and hopefully I can improve again,” Amalfitano told West Ham’s website. “The first year was good for my experience and I will try to help West Ham now by giving my best and continue to improve in this league. I like this country and this is the best league.”

6:20 p.m.: Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo is heading back to Spain after one season at the Etihad Stadium.

Valencia has the option to purchase Negredo next summer for £23.7 million ($39.4 million), according to the Telegraph.

6 p.m.: The summer 2014 transfer window now is closed. There almost certainly are a number of deals that have been finalized in the last few minutes. We’re waiting for the information to become public.

5:50 p.m.: Liverpool’s Oussama Assaidi is set to spend another season on loan at Stoke City.

The French defender joined Newcastle in January 2013 and spent 18 months with the Magpies. Yanga-Mbiwa’s contract doesn’t expire for another four years, so there’s a chance he could return to the Premier League club in the future.

5:35 p.m.: Hull City makes scored a a deadline-day hat-trick of signings, having secured the services of Gaston Ramirez, who joins on a season-long loan from Southampton.

5:15 p.m.: Micah Richards is taking his talents abroad after agreeing to join Italian Serie A (first division) club Fiorentina on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

Richards, 26, only played 10 games for Manchester City last season — primarily due to injuries and loss of form. A number of Premier League clubs reportedly were pursuing Richards, but his salary made it difficult for him to secure a move to a domestic suitor, according to the Mail.

Richards, an England international, now will test himself in Italy’s top-flight, while Manchester City pockets a £1 million ($1 million) loan fee for its longtime defender.

5:10 p.m.: Neil Warnock assumed the role of Crystal Palace manager last week, and the Eagles boss is doing plenty of shopping on deadline day.

Crystal Palace signed James McArthur from Wigan Athletic for a reported fee of £7 million ($11.6 million). The Scottish midfielder was an integral part of the Wigan team which won the FA Cup in 2013 but also was relegated from the Premier League.

James McArthur has signed a three year contract with Palace after joining from Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee. http://t.co/6hLUGbxzuD

5 p.m.: The transfer window closes in one hour for Premier League clubs. Stick with us for all the late moves, as teams look to sign and sell players before the buzzer sounds.

4:40 p.m.: Tottenham made another noteworthy signing earlier Monday when it landed Benjamin Stambouli from French club Montpellier in a transfer worth a reported £4.7 million ($7.8 million), according to the BBC.

Fryers, a highly rated defender, is a product of Manchester United’s youth system. Fryers, 21, controversially joined Tottenham in Jan. 2013 but only played 16 games in 18 months at White Hart Lane.

3:50 p.m.: Jermaine Defoe is staying with Toronto FC.

Defoe reportedly has drawn interest from Premier League clubs Arsenal, Newcastle, Hull City, Leicester City and QPR in recent weeks. QPR reportedly lodged a £6.6 million ($11 million) transfer bid for Defoe, but the English striker will stick with his MLS club, according to the Toronto Sun.

“Obviously the bids that were most intense were for Jermain Defoe,” Toronto FC president Tim Leiweke said. “We’re not interested in him going anywhere. People spin this stuff based on their end goals. There was spinning.”

3:25 p.m.: Manchester United’s spending spree continues. The Red Devils signed Daley Blind from Ajax for £13.8 million ($16 million), according to the BBC.

Blind can play both as a holding midfielder and as a left-sided fullback. The 24-year-old was part of the Netherlands’ 2014 FIFA World Cup squad, which new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal led to a third-place finish.

2:35 p.m.: Hull City bolsters its midfield ranks by signing Mohamed Diame from West Ham. The 27-year-old France-born Senegal international has loads of Premier League experience, having played regular games for West Ham and Wigan in recent seasons.

Van Ginkel tore his ACL last September, ruining his first season at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea allowed the 21-year-old midfielder to spend the season at AC Milan after manager Jose Mourinho decided that he wouldn’t break into his regular midfield rotation.

1:30 p.m.: Hull City has broken its transfer record by signing Abel Hernandez for Italian club Palermo for £10 million ($16.6 million), according to the BBC.

NEW SIGNING: We are delighted to have completed the signing of Abel Hernandez from Serie A side Palermo #UTThttp://t.co/sZ2NV4N4IK

12:40 p.m.: Sunderland has been chasing Fabio Borini all summer, but it looks like Queens Park Rangers will win the race for the Italian striker.

Liverpool has accepted QPR’s £10 million ($16.6 million) transfer bid for Borini, according to the Mail and the Liverpool Echo. The fee could rise to around £13 ($21.6 million) if certain clauses are met.

QPR's offer for Fabio Borini - which has been accepted by Liverpool - could amount to around £13m with add ons.

Verdict: The potential fee is £1 million ($1.6 million) less than what Sunderland had agreed to pay Liverpool earlier this summer. Borini’s reported reservations about returning to the club with which he spent last season on loan held up the deal. But Mario Balotelli’s arrival at Liverpool effectively sealed Borini’s exit, as he would have been the fourth-choice striker under Brendan Rodgers.

Liverpool’s and QPR’s gain ultimately will be Sunderland’s loss if Borini’s move is sealed before the deadline.

10 - No Sunderland player scored more goals in all competitions last season than Fabio Borini (10). Premium. #transferdeadlineday

Verdict: We like this move for Green. The teenage forward was unlikely to play, as superstars Robert Lewandowski, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Thomas Muller and others are ahead of him in manager Pep Guardiola’s reckoning. Green’s development is at a crucial point. He needs to play regular games at a high level, and Hamburg will give him a good chance to do so while remaining in a familiar environment.

Noon ET: The wheeling and dealing started in June. It ends Monday.

The summer 2014 transfer window closes on Monday for many of Europe’s major soccer leagues. Players and money are changing hands at dizzying speeds, as teams look to strengthen themselves through last-minute additions and subtractions.

The Premier League is the richest and most watched domestic league in the world, and many expect its clubs to surpass the £1 billion ($1.66 billion) mark in terms of summer spending. Some of the sport’s biggest names have joined English clubs this summer, and more are on the way.

The biggest transfer story so far involves Radamel Falcao, who is nearing a move to Manchester United from France’s AS Monaco on a season-long loan. Manchester United agreed to pay £6 million ($10 million) for the rights to field the Colombian striker this season, according to the BBC. Falcao reportedly is flying to Manchester to discuss personal terms and have a physical examination. It’s likely that the Red Devils will look to sign Falcao permanently in the coming months.

As a result of the Falcao loan, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez is heading for the exit door at Old Trafford. Hernandez has joined Real Madrid on a season-long loan after falling further down the pecking order at Manchester United. Hernandez, a Mexican international, will compete with Karim Benzema for playing time in the central striker’s role at the Bernabeu.

Manchester United is in advanced talks with Real Madrid about buying di Maria for a British-record transfer fee worth around £56 million ($92.8 million), according to Sky Sports’ Guillem Balague.

“So advanced, in fact, are the negotiations that it has already been agreed that Di Maria will wear the number seven shirt, worn in the past by no lesser players than David Beckham, Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo, George Best and Bryan Robson,” Balague said.

“As soon as Di Maria knew of Manchester United’s interest he was very excited about the possibility of coming to Old Trafford. At first Paris Saint-Germain showed interest in singing him and said they were prepared to meet his wage demands of 8 million Euros a year net (£6.4 million/$10.6 million), but the deal offered by United was much more interesting to him.

“Firstly, United is a club with much more prestige throughout Europe, and secondly, it’s a new project where he knows he will be one of the leaders. Cristiano Ronaldo has also told him some great things about United and has succeeded in persuading him that it is a good option even though the club is not playing in Europe this season.

“He is also very excited about the prospect of working with manager Louis van Gaal and everyone is expecting that the deal will be closed soon.

Di Maria’s reported transfer fee surpasses the £50 million ($82.8 million) Chelsea paid Liverpool to sign Fernando Torres in January 2011 — the current British record.

After joining Real Madrid from Portuguese club Benfica for £20 million ($33 million) in 2010, Di Maria scored 36 goals in 190 games and helped end its 12-year quest for a UEFA Champions League title last season, earning man-of-the-match honors in the final.

However, di Maria hasn’t always felt appreciated at Real Madrid. He has been shuttled around a number of positions, and his salary doesn’t reflect his on-field importance to the team. Real Madrid offered Di Maria a new contract this summer, but he rejected it and asked to leave the club.

On Sunday, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti said di Maria is preparing to leave the Spanish capital.

“Di Maria has not trained with us today and he came in to say goodbye to the players and people at the club,” Ancelotti said, according to the BBC. “There is nothing official yet but it is being sorted out. The decision is his and the club has done what it could to keep him here.”

“Di Maria asked to go in the summer and has rejected an offer (of a new contract) from the club,” Ancelotti said, according to the BBC.

The news puts the likes of Manchester United and PSG on red alert, as di Maria has been linked with moves to both clubs for nearly 18 months.

Ancelotti said di Maria, 26, will have a future at Real Madrid if a move fails to materialize.

“The player has to look for a solution,” Ancelotti said. “If when the transfer market closes he’s still here, he will work with us like last season and there will be no problem.”

Di Maria joined Real Madrid from Portuguese club Benfica in 2010 in a transfer worth around £20 million ($33 million). Despite being a valuable member of the squad, di Maria often has been overshadowed by teammates such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and Gareth Bale, and criticized by part of the club’s fan base. Yet, di Maria was instrumental in Real Madrid’s greatest achievement in a decade, earning “man of the match” honors in the 2014 UEFA Champions League final win over Atletico Madrid.

Di Maria might have reached his breaking point when Real Madrid signed two attacking midfielders, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez, this summer. The 2014 World Cup stars’ arrivals could further limit di Maria’s chances of playing his preferred role, and he decided that now is the time for a new adventure.

During a press conference Friday, Ronaldo spoke glowingly about Manchester United and his time there. The Portuguese superstar then refused to rule out a potential return to the Premier League club, according to ESPN.

“I love Manchester, and to be back, I never know, you never know,” Ronaldo said. “(In) football you never know. Of course, I’m happy at Real Madrid, it’s my home, it’s my club, but Manchester treated me unbelievable so we never know.”

“It was one of my favourite clubs, Manchester. Everyone knows that every time when I speak about Real Madrid I should speak about Manchester United, I loved it there.

Ronaldo played for Manchester United from 2003-2009. Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 games, helping the club win three Premier League titles, two League Cups, one FA Cup, one UEFA Champions League title and one FIFA Club World Cup crown. Manchester United sold Ronaldo to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 for a then world-record £80 million ($122.2 million).

Ronaldo is entering the second year of a five-year contract he signed with Real Madrid in Sept. 2013. Ronaldo’s existing deal expires in 2018, and any interested team would have to pay Real Madrid a significant transfer fee in order to sign him.

While Ronaldo is settled and thriving at Real Madrid (scoring an eye-popping 252 goals in 246 games), there was a time when that wasn’t the case. A little more than a year before Ronaldo signed the new contract, he voiced his discontent with life at the club. In the ensuing 12 months, there was constant speculation that Ronaldo might return to Old Trafford. There were even rumors last summer that Manchester United was preparing a £80 million ($122.2 million) transfer bid for its former hero, but a move never materialized.

After that, it was all quiet on the Ronaldo front. That is, until Friday when the rumor mill began to turn once again.

Kroos, 24, joined Real Madrid from Bayern Munich on Thursday in a transfer reportedly worth around £20 million ($34.2 million), according to FIFA.com.

Kroos departed the 2013 UEFA Champions League winner to join the 2014 Champions League title holder.

Kroos is aware that he will be under pressure to maintain his high standard of performance, but he has no fear of the lofty expectations that his team and its fans have placed on him.

“I know that at this club you are expected to win trophies but I’m the right man for that because I’m used to winning,” Kroos said. “I like pressure, I have done ever since I started playing. In Bayern there is also only one option, to win. I’m here to win trophies and that’s what stimulates me. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure Madrid continues to have success.”

Kroos made his debut with Bayern Munich in 2007 and went on to become a certifiable star in Germany’s Bundesliga (first division) and in the European soccer scene. Kroos scored 23 goals in 173 Bundesliga games with Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen (where he spent 18 months on loan in 2008-09 and 2009-10) and won three Bundesliga titles and three DFB-Pokals (German Cups).

Bayern Munich failed to successfully defend its UEFA Champions League crown last season, but the German club won the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup as well as the domestic double with Kroos contributing from the midfield.

Kroos was entering the final year of his contract with Bayern Munich and was unable to reach an agreement on a new deal. Bayern Munich decided to sell Kroos, rather than risk losing him as a free agent next summer. Kroos had been linked with Manchester United during the 2013-14 season, but Real Madrid won the race for the German star.

Less than 30 days after Manchester United fired him as manager, Moyes now finds himself under police investigation.

Moyes, 51, will be questioned by police over an alleged assault at a wine bar in Lancaster, England, around 10 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Mirror.

“Police are investigating a report of an assault at the Emporium wine bar in Clitheroe,” a Lancashire Police statement said. “Officers attended the bar at about 10 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday, May 21st), and it was reported that a 23 year old local man had been assaulted by a 51 year old man. He did not require hospital treatment.

“Inquiries are ongoing and we are speaking to a number of people to try to establish the circumstances.

“There are a number of differing accounts which we need to work through to try to establish exactly what has happened. No-one has been arrested at this stage.”

The incident allegedly took place as Moyes was dining with a friend. The Mirror also reported the alleged victim told police that he was hit in the back of the head, fell to the floor and injured his shoulder.

Moyes has not spoken publicly about the incident.

The Scot has kept out of the limelight since his dismissal from Old Trafford last month, but rumors say he could return to management at another club before next season.

Cole joined Chelsea from Arsenal in 2006. He played 338 games for the Blues, helping them win one Premier League title, four FA Cups, one League Cup, one UEFA Champions League and one UEFA Europa League.

Cole was a fixture in the Chelsea lineup until this season when he lost his place at left back — first because of a rib injury then due to manager Jose Mourinho’s increasing reliance on Cesar Azlpilicueta. In the end, Cole played only 17 Premier League games in 2013-14.

There’s a small chance Cole could have a future at Chelsea, but he would have to accept a one-year contract (per club policy) and a pay cut in order to do remain at Stamford Bridge, according to the Telegraph.

It’s more likely that Cole will move elsewhere this summer. French clubs AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain could offer Cole a foreign adventure and Champions League soccer next season, as could Spanish giant Real Madrid. Premier League rivals Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal also have been linked with Cole in recent months.

Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls and L.A. Galaxy are thought to be willing to offer Cole a route to the United States, but the Telegraph reports the former England international isn’t interested in moving stateside at this point.

Cole will choose his next stop after he returns to London from his California vacation next week.

Speaking at the start of the Netherlands’ 2014 FIFA World Cup training camp, Van Gaal told the BBC that he would “love” to manage Manchester United.

“I would love the job,” Van Gaal said. “I hope that I shall be the one. It’s the biggest club in the world and it’s a fantastic challenge.”

Van Gaal has been widely tipped to take over at Old Trafford next season, and Manchester United is expected to appoint him as manager next week.

But later on, the Dutchman told Dutch soccer magazine Voetbal International that he has yet to decide whether he will take the Manchester United job or work elsewhere, according to the Associated Press.

“There are more clubs interested,” van Gaal said. “I have more options. It is a process we’re in and everybody has to wait patiently on my choice and that of the clubs.

“There is no deal yet. There are papers that write I have already signed, there are even assistants named. It’s a pity it goes this way.

“There are more clubs interested in Louis van Gaal. We will see which choice I make and which choice the clubs make.”

Van Gaal currently works as the Netherlands’ head coach but he will step down after the World Cup.

The 62-year-old also was linked with Tottenham Hotspur earlier this year, but that speculation cooled after Manchester United fired David Moyes on April 22 and installed player-coach Ryan Giggs as caretaker manager.

Van Gaal reportedly has agreed to take charge at Old Trafford, and Manchester United is expected to make a formal announcement next week, sources told Sky Sports.

“He’s the man Manchester United want,” Sky Sports News reporter James Cooper said. “They have sounded out other candidates, but Louis van Gaal is going to be Manchester United’s next manager.”

Van Gaal currently works as head coach of the Netherlands’ national team. The 62-year-old will lead the Dutch at the 2014 FIFA World Cup before assuming the manager’s role at Manchester United following the tournament.

Van Gaal’s appointment will end weeks of speculation about Manchester United’s managerial situation that started when the Red Devils fired David Moyes on April 22 and replaced him with player-coach Ryan Giggs.

Van Gaal was rumored to have accepted the Manchester United job one week later, but the club denied hiring the Dutchman.

Van Gaal has a wealth of experience and a track record of winning major trophies at some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Van Gaal led Ajax to three Eredivisie (Dutch first division) titles, one UEFA Cup and one UEFA Champions League crown from 1991 to 1997. He then steered Barcelona to two La Liga (Spanish first division) titles and one Copa del Rey (Spanish cup) from 1997 to 2000. He won another Eredivisie title with AZ Alkmaar in 2009 before taking over at Bayern Munich and leading the German giant to a Bundesliga (German first division) and DFB-Pokal (German Cup) double in 2010.

Manchester United will give van Gaal a hefty transfer budget — perhaps as high as £200 million ($339 million) — to help him rebuild the club. Manchester United also will expect Van Gaal to lift the club from this season’s seventh-place finish back into contention for the Premier League title.

Old Trafford sources told ESPN FC that the club was moving toward hiring Van Gaal, and Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported on Saturday that the hiring was a done deal.

The club released a statement denying those reports.

“We have not signed a new manager,” the statement said. “When we have something to report, we will announce it.”

Van Gaal coached Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich and will coach the Netherlands at the 2014 FIFA World Cup this summer. He has also confirmed that he will return to club management when he returns from Brazil.

Manchester United is currently operating under interim manager Ryan Giggs. Moyes’ dismissal came with the club poised to finish seventh in the Premier League and having failed to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Manchester United’s board of directors has decided to fire Moyes, according to various reports Monday.

“Just 11 months after being handed a six-year contract as Sir Alex Ferguson’s hand-picked successor at United, Moyes is understood to have lost the backing of the Glazers and senior executives at the club, with Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Everton proving the final straw,” the Telegraph reported. “The 50-year-old’s reign could end before Saturday’s Old Trafford encounter with Norwich City if he chooses to seek assurances over his future which executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is unlikely to be able to offer.”

Moyes has presided over Manchester United’s worst season in the Premier League era. The Red Devils are likely to finish in seventh place and record their lowest domestic points total since 1990 (when they finished 13th). They also will probably fail to qualify for either European competition for the firs time since the 1981-82 campaign.

Moyes is believed to have lost the support of a number of senior players and a large section of the fan base.

Manchester United reportedly will spend between £150 million to 200 million ($252 million to $336 million) on new players this summer, and club bosses have decided Moyes is not the best person to spend that kind of money to take the Red Devils forward.

Carvalho has agreed to join the Red Devils from Portugal’s Sporting CP (Lisbon) this summer, according to talkSPORT.

“talkSPORT understands United have already agreed a fee of around £35 million with Sporting Lisbon and finalized terms with the midfielder on a five-year contract, although the deal will not be made official until the transfer window opens.”

Carvalho, 22, has developed into one of the top young players in Portuguese soccer. The robust defensive midfielder has started 26 league games for Sporting, helping the club close in on a second-place finish in the Primeira Liga (Portugal’s first division).

Carvalho also has progressed through Portugal’s National Team setup and is expected to earn a spot on his country’s 2014 FIFA World Cup squad.

The reported transfer fee would make Carvalho the second most expensive player in Manchester United’s history, costing a shade under the £37 million ($61 million) the Red Devils paid for Juan Mata in January.

Manchester United will finish in either sixth or seventh place in the Premier League this season. Many expect it to spend around £200 million ($334.4 million) on new players this summer, as it attempts to return to the top in both English and European soccer in the coming years.

Not only is Giggs considering retiring as a Manchester United player, he also could relinquish his role as a coach on manager David Moyes’ staff after this season, according to the Mail.

“Such a move would send shock waves through Old Trafford after the one-club winger was drafted on to Moyes’ coaching staff in what was seen as a step towards grooming him for a possible elevation to the manager’s job in years to come,” the report says.

“But Giggs is not only ready to end one of the most decorated playing careers in recent memory but make a clean break and continue his coaching badge away from United, in the hope of starting afresh and proving himself at another club.”

The report claims that Giggs has become disenchanted over his lack of playing time in recent months. The 40-year-old midfielder has only appeared in five games (one League Cup, two Premier League and two UEFA Champions League) in 2014. His contract expires after this season, and it is unknown whether Moyes plans to offer him a new one.

Talk of retirement comes as little surprise, but rumors of his departure from the coaching staff are a new development.

Giggs is arguably Manchester United’s greatest-ever player, having spent his entire 24-year professional career with the club. He debuted in 1990 and went on to win 26 major trophies in his glittering career.

Filed under: Manchester United FC, Marcus Kwesi O'Mard, Premier League, Rumors, Soccer, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/04/report-ryan-giggs-considers-leaving-manchester-united-after-2013-14-season/feed/00Ryan Giggs and David MoyesnesnmomardRyan Giggs and David MoyesFirst Renderings Of David Beckham’s Miami MLS Stadium Revealed (Photos)http://nesn.com/2014/03/first-renderings-of-david-beckhams-miami-mls-stadium-revealed-photos/
http://nesn.com/2014/03/first-renderings-of-david-beckhams-miami-mls-stadium-revealed-photos/#commentsMon, 24 Mar 2014 18:38:53 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=308839]]>David Beckham needs public support to realize his dream of bringing Major League Soccer to Miami, so, on Monday, he did what he does best: He created buzz.

Beckham’s ownership group released details and artists’ renderings of a new soccer stadium he wants to build in downtown Miami. The Miami Herald reports the stadium would have a capacity of 20,000 to 25,000 seats and boast spectacular views of the Miami skyline.

“We think it’s time to share our vision,” said John Alschuler, Beckham’s real estate adviser. “Let’s have a full, vigorous public debate about it. We feel a stadium downtown can be a key contributor to the revival of a great city. David loves what it’s becoming, and much of that energy is downtown.”

Beckham hopes to build the privately financed stadium on the waterfront of Dodge Island in PortMiami. However, Royal Caribbean Cruises is opposing Beckham’s plan, saying it would hinder operations and efforts to expand its headquarters.

Beckham will consider three other sites if he fails to secure permission to build in PortMiami, but the plan his group revealed Monday is the preferred option.

“We have a chance to do something special,” Alschuler said. “It can be one of the great stadiums.”

Beckham’s plan to launch an MLS expansion team in Miami is contingent on his group building a new stadium. The former England captain reportedly hopes the team can start playing by 2017.

Check out a couple of images below.

David Beckham's planned stadium in Miami is cool, but only if you can dock your boat there. http://t.co/bZKkfY28H3

Filed under: Manchester United FC, Marcus Kwesi O'Mard, Premier League, Rumors, Soccer, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/03/first-renderings-of-david-beckhams-miami-mls-stadium-revealed-photos/feed/00David Beckham, Don Garber, Carlos GimeneznesnmomardDavid Moyes: My Job As Manchester United Manager Is Safehttp://nesn.com/2014/03/david-moyes-my-job-as-manchester-united-manager-is-safe/
http://nesn.com/2014/03/david-moyes-my-job-as-manchester-united-manager-is-safe/#commentsWed, 19 Mar 2014 16:52:18 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=306247]]>If David Moyes is feeling the heat under the seat, he’s not about to make it known.

Speculation that Moyes’ job as Manchester United manager is under threat has grown in recent days, but Moyes told reporters Tuesday that he has heard no such thing from within the club.

“My future has not changed one bit,” Moyes said, according to the Press Association. “I have got a great job, know exactly the direction I want to go in.

“The biggest assurance is that (the board) let me get on with the job. … We talk about the future. We make big plans going forward. That is why they gave me a six-year contract. This is not a club that works on a short-term vision. It is a long-term one.”

Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Liverpool all but ended Manchester United’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League, heaping more pressure on Moyes.

Reports saying Manchester United’s board has discussed firing Moyes arose Monday, but the Scot insists he will remain at the helm for the long haul.

Yet, that could change in the coming weeks, despite Moyes’ comments. If Olympiacos eliminates Manchester United from the Champions League on Wednesday (the Red Devils must overturn a 2-0 deficit), consigning Moyes’ team to a trophy-less season, fans could turn on their embattled manager and effectively signal the end of his brief reign at Old Trafford.

Manchester United’s season has gone from bad to worse, and Moyes finds himself under ever-increasing pressure. ESPN reports the Manchester United manager is losing support among the club’s board of directors, who have discussed firing him if results don’t improve immediately.

“Key Manchester United boardroom figures have now turned against David Moyes, as the prospect of the manager getting sacked has been properly raised for the first time,” the report says. “The Glazer family owners are now more open to the idea of a change of manager, although they presently remain behind Moyes, but the next week could prove decisive, sources said.

“Over that time, United must overturn a 2-0 deficit in the (UEFA) Champions League against Olympiakos before facing an awkward trip to West Ham United and then a potentially daunting second derby of the season against Manchester City.”

Manchester United is reeling after Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford. The Red Devils have lost seven of 14 games in 2014 and are seventh in the Premier League.

The report adds that club sponsors have voiced their concerns about the team’s performances to the board, saying they don’t want to be associated with failure.

Moyes is believed to retain the support of influential directors Sir Bobby Charlton and (Moyes’ predecessor and patron) Sir Alex Ferguson, but Ferguson’s backing of Moyes has been less forceful in recent weeks, according to ESPN.

Fan support will be a key factor in Moyes’ future. If the unrest grows in the stands, Moyes easily could lose his last backers in both the boardroom and the dressing room.